Iraq - A Bloody Mess

Samarra shrine blasts - The two minarets used to stand either side of the mosque, which houses the remains of two revered Shia imams.

US arms Sunni dissidents in risky bid to contain al-Qaida fighters in Iraq

· Guns and equipment already handed over
· Insurgents promise not to attack Americans

The US military has embarked on a new and risky strategy in Iraq by arming Sunni insurgents in the hope that they will tackle the extremist al-Qaida in Iraq.

The US high command this month gave permission to its officers on the ground to negotiate arms deals with local leaders. Arms, ammunition, body armour and other equipment, as well as cash, pick-up trucks and fuel, have already been handed over in return for promises to turn on al-Qaida and not attack US troops.

What on earth makes the US army think the Sunni insurgents will keep their promise not to use weapons given to them by the US on the US army?

This just adds fuel to an already out of control fire.

Its an incredibly stupid idea, one in a long list of stupidity which has characterized this misadventure that is Iraq.

Meanwhile - Blasts at Iraq's Askariya shrine

A series of blasts have destroyed two minarets at an already damaged Shia shrine in the northern Iraqi town of Samarra.

The explosions were heard in the vicinity of the Askariya mosque at about 9:00am (0500 GMT) on Wednesday. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

"The explosion targeted the two golden minarets. They have been damaged ... This is a criminal act which aims at creating sectarian strife," Saleh al-Haidari, the head of the Shia endowment in Iraq, said.

How anyone can claim Iraq is a 'success' is simply beyond me.